Description

The General Ethnicity Questionnaire (GEQ-38) is a comprehensive psychometric instrument developed by Tsai, Ying, and Lee (2000) to assess an individual’s ethnic identity, cultural orientation, and degree of affiliation with a specific ethnic or cultural group. Originally designed for bicultural populations, the questionnaire has since been adapted for use across diverse ethnic groups by replacing the target culture with the population of interest.

The GEQ-38 evaluates multiple dimensions of ethnic orientation, recognizing that ethnicity extends beyond ancestry to include language use, cultural values, social relationships, traditions, behaviors, and emotional attachment to one’s cultural heritage. Rather than measuring ethnicity as a demographic characteristic, the instrument assesses the extent to which individuals identify with and actively participate in their ethnic culture.

The questionnaire assesses several key domains, including:

  • Language use and language proficiency
  • Social affiliation with members of the ethnic group
  • Participation in cultural traditions and activities
  • Knowledge of cultural customs and practices
  • Cultural pride and ethnic identity
  • Media preferences and cultural exposure
  • Food preferences and lifestyle behaviors

Because of its multidimensional structure, the GEQ-38 is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive measures of ethnic orientation and acculturation available for multicultural research.

Data Analysis and Applications

The GEQ-38 enables researchers to evaluate both the strength and the multidimensional nature of ethnic identity. The instrument can be used to:

  • Assess ethnic identity and cultural affiliation.
  • Measure levels of acculturation and enculturation.
  • Examine relationships between ethnic identity and psychological well-being.
  • Investigate the influence of cultural orientation on social adjustment, education, and health outcomes.
  • Compare cultural orientations across different ethnic or immigrant populations.
  • Evaluate multicultural, educational, and community-based intervention programs.
  • Support research in psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, migration studies, and public health.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the General Ethnicity Questionnaire (GEQ-38) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of an individual’s orientation toward a particular ethnic culture. The instrument measures the extent to which individuals maintain cultural practices, identify with their ethnic background, participate in cultural activities, and integrate their ethnic identity into everyday life. It is particularly valuable for studying biculturalism, acculturation, cultural adaptation, and ethnic identity development across diverse populations.

Scoring

The GEQ-38 consists of 38 items divided into several cultural domains.

Two response formats are typically used:

Items 1–25

A 5-point Likert scale:

  • 1 = Strongly Disagree
  • 2 = Disagree
  • 3 = Neutral
  • 4 = Agree
  • 5 = Strongly Agree

Items 26–38

A 5-point frequency/intensity scale:

  • 1 = Very Much
  • 2 = Much
  • 3 = Somewhat
  • 4 = A Little
  • 5 = Not at All

Scores are calculated by summing or averaging the relevant items after applying reverse scoring where required. Individual subscale scores may also be computed for each cultural domain.

  • Higher scores indicate a stronger orientation toward and identification with the target ethnic culture.
  • Lower scores indicate weaker cultural affiliation and lower engagement with the assessed ethnic group.

Statistical Analysis

Psychometric evaluation of the GEQ-38 typically includes:

  • Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and score distributions).
  • Internal consistency assessment using Cronbach’s alpha.
  • Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to evaluate the multidimensional structure.
  • Correlation analyses examining relationships between ethnic identity and variables such as psychological well-being, self-esteem, discrimination, acculturation, and life satisfaction.
  • Group comparisons using independent t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, or non-parametric statistical procedures.
  • Multiple regression analyses and structural equation modeling to identify predictors of ethnic identity and cultural adaptation.

Validity

The GEQ-38 has demonstrated strong construct, convergent, and criterion validity across numerous studies involving bicultural and multicultural populations. Research supports its multidimensional structure and its ability to distinguish varying levels of ethnic orientation and cultural identification. The questionnaire has been successfully adapted for multiple cultural groups while maintaining its psychometric integrity.

Reliability

The General Ethnicity Questionnaire (GEQ-38) demonstrates excellent psychometric properties. Validation studies have reported high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients typically ranging from approximately 0.85 to 0.92, depending on the cultural version and study population. Evidence also supports satisfactory test–retest reliability, confirming the instrument’s stability over time.

References

Tsai, J. L., Ying, Y., & Lee, P. A. (2000). The Meaning of “Being Chinese” and “Being American”: Variation Among Chinese American Young Adults. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 31(3), 302–332.

Ying, Y., Lee, P. A., & Tsai, J. L. (2000). Cultural Orientation and Racial Discrimination: Predictors of Coherence in Chinese American Young Adults. Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 427–442.

Tsai, J. L. (2001). Cultural Orientation and Psychological Well-Being.